SEe the impact
This proposed water sale threatens everyone connected to Lake O' the Pines and Caddo Lake. If you live in Pittsburgh, Daingerfield, Jefferson, Hughes Springs, Lone Star, Ore City, or Avinger, your city council's vote directly determines this outcome. Lake homeowners, boaters, and fishers face diminished access as water levels drop. Business owners will see tourism decline as recreational opportunities vanish.
Property owners along Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake will experience reduced water flow and quality. Hunters, boaters, and outdoor enthusiasts will find damaged wildlife habitats and ecosystems. Anyone planning to remain in East Texas should worry about diminished water access for future economic development.
Also critically, Caddo Lake—Texas' only natural lake and an irreplaceable ecological treasure—faces an existential threat, as its survival depends on water flowing from Lake O' the Pines.
lake o’ the pines
This map reveals what happens to Lake O' the Pines if the proposed water sale goes through. The red-outlined areas show the lake's edge at projected lowest levels compared to full capacity. Notice how dramatically the shoreline would recede, with many boat ramps (red dots) becoming completely unusable. This isn't just about recreation—it represents direct impacts to property values, wildlife habitat, and our local economy that depends on lake access. These dramatic changes would permanently alter the landscape our communities have relied on for generations.
Contact your city council today to protect Lake O' the Pines and Caddo Lake for future generations— once these water rights are gone, we can never get them back.
Caddo lake
This map highlights the severe threat to Caddo Lake—Texas' only natural lake—if the proposed water sale moves forward. The cross-hatched areas reveal portions that would be lost as water levels drop to projected lows. The red outline shows the dramatically reduced shoreline compared to normal levels.
Caddo Lake's unique cypress forest ecosystem would be severely damaged, with substantial wetland areas becoming dry land. Notice how protected areas (in light green) would be affected, compromising wildlife habitat and endangering the lake's status as a Wetland of International Importance. Boat ramps (marked by colored dots) would become inaccessible, cutting off the recreational access that supports local tourism.
This isn't just a change in water levels—it's a fundamental threat to a irreplaceable natural treasure that defines our region's identity and economy.